8-year-old badly burned; cause unclear

It happened last Thursday afternoon in Ladyville, and while it is clear that a boy has been horribly injured, what is not so certain is how and why. Jacqueline Woods is just back with the story.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

Eight-year-old Jose Luis Ortega received first and second degree burns to forty percent of his body after he claims a sixteen year old boy set him on fire. According to Ortega, he had climbed into this play tunnel to look for a screw that belonged to his father. The little boy said he does not know if there was something flammable inside the tunnel, but he first saw the boy light a match and then his feet were on fire.

Jose Luis Ortega, Burn victim

“I gone in deh, I gone look fi my daddy screw. I seh I wah put it inna his draw weh they put screw, I wah put it deh. And when I start to come out, the lee bwai come throw the match on him.”

Ortega’s face, chest, hands and feet were badly burned and he remains hospitalised at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.

Jose Luis Ortega, Burn Victim

“My foot hurt me, this one itch me, this one yah the pain me so, this one yah wah burst.”

Ladyville police say they took the alleged suspect into custody, but released him pending further investigation. According to authorities, they cannot say what happened and are investigating to see whether the incident was deliberately caused or a tragic accident.

Jenny Ortega, Mother

“Every minute they injection my child for pain, every minute…I need somebody to please help me.”

Jenny Ortega says the doctors have told her that if they want, the family can seek medical attention abroad, but that would cost them approximately twenty thousand dollars; money she says the family does not have. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.

If you would like to help Jose Luis Ortega, you can contact his mother, Jenny Ortega, at the paediatric ward at the K.H.M.H.